Page 90 of Past Due

Chapter Twenty-Two

Hours later, Besian couldn’t take his eyes off Marley. She sat next to him, chatting animatedly with Rina and Stefana. Every time she moved her hand, the light glinted off the dainty gold band that told everyone she belonged to him now.

Mine.

My wife.

It seemed impossible to believe yet it was true. She had accepted him and married him. She had tied herself to him, bound their futures and done so willingly and happily.

He had been a bit wobbly with nerves even before he saw her walking down the short aisle in the hotel’s garden, but that first glimpse of Marley in her wedding dress had nearly sent him to his knees. She was always beautiful, but there was something almost ethereal about the way she had looked in that moment. The sun had been behind her, creating a soft halo of light, and her auburn hair had looked so stark and rich against the paleness of her dress.

She caught him staring at her and grasped his hand. “You okay?”

He nodded and leaned over to kiss her cheek. “I’m just happy.”

Her eyes lit up. “So am I.”

His daze drifted to the gold cross dangling around her neck. To say he had been shocked to see it earlier was an understatement. He touched it carefully, drawing his finger along the delicate gold chain. “I didn’t even know Drita had this.”

“She’s been keeping it for the right wife, apparently.” Marley’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Who knew that was me?”

“I did.” He held the cross between his forefinger and thumb. “This is very old.”

“I won’t wear it again,” she said, misunderstanding him. “I’ll make sure it goes into a safe until...”

“Until?” he prompted.

“I promised Drita it would go to one of our daughters.”

A flare of something needy and possessive burned through him. The idea of children wasn’t as terrifying as it had been only a few days ago. With Marley’s guidance, he could learn to be a proper father.

“Well,” he said carefully, “until then, I want you to wear it whenever you like. It’s yours now, and I know you’ll take care of it.”

“I will,” she promised. Hesitantly, she admitted in a hushed tone, “I thought your family was Muslim.”

“Part of them were,” he confirmed. “Grandparents and such.” He shrugged. “My brothers and I weren’t raised religious. Ben’s father was slightly more interested, I think, in that part of our family history, but as far as I know, he wasn’t observant in any way.”

“I wasn’t raised religious at all, but I think we should probably map out what our ancestors believed. Just in case our kids want to know where they come from?”

“Drita would know more about that than me.” He curled one of the wavy strands of her hair around his finger, enjoying the feel of it against his skin. “You two made up?”

“We did.”

“And you’re happy with the apology you received?”

“I am.”

He decided to leave it at that. Marley was perfectly capable of deciding her own boundaries. Rina called her name, and Marley held up a finger to ask her to wait. After sneaking two quick kisses and wiping away the smudge of lipstick from his mouth, Marley slipped away with Rina. He watched her leave the private room hosting their intimate wedding reception and wondered how much longer they had to wait before they could run off and start their honeymoon.

Zec dropped into the chair Marley had just vacated. He plunked down a bottle of rakia and two small glasses. He had been working his way around the table, offering toasts to the guests. More than a little drunk, Zec actually smiled as he asked, “Happy?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” Zec opened the bottle and splashed liquor into the glasses. “How much longer do you plan to stay here?”

“Here at this table or here in Tirana?”

“Both?”

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